Year-End Moves That Make Tax Debt Easier to Resolve

At Golden Lion Tax Solutions, we’ve helped thousands of taxpayers and professionals navigate the year-end crunch. What we’ve learned is that timing and intention make a real difference. The IRS might slow down for the holidays, but interest, penalties, and stress don’t. Taking a few small, smart steps before December 31 can set you up for smoother resolutions, lighter pressure, and a clearer start to 2026.

Why the End of the Year Matters

The final quarter of the year often feels like a blur. Between holidays, year-end accounting, and financial reporting, it’s easy for IRS concerns to slide to the bottom of the list. But waiting until January, when the IRS begins clearing backlogs and sending new notices, can make things more complicated.

Acting now gives you an advantage. You’re not reacting to new letters or collection calls, you’re proactively preparing your file, updating your information, and setting yourself up for a calmer tax season.

Here’s where to start.

File Any Unfiled Returns

Even if you can’t pay your balance yet, filing is the key that unlocks every door to resolution. The IRS can’t help you, through payment plans, settlements, or hardship status, until all your required returns are filed.

Filing before year-end shows good faith and re-establishes compliance. It’s also one of the fastest ways to reduce anxiety. Many people are surprised by how much peace of mind they feel once the paperwork is actually in the system.

Remember: progress beats perfection.

Make One Good-Faith Payment

You don’t have to pay everything to make a difference. Even a small payment helps reduce penalties and interest, while signaling that you’re taking your debt seriously. The IRS notices initiative, and it can positively influence how your case is handled later.

Think of it as momentum, proof to yourself that you’re moving in the right direction, one step at a time.

Review Your Financial Picture

Before the year closes, take a close look at your financial landscape. Gather the basics: income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Having this ready can drastically speed up your case review when you or your tax professional contacts the IRS in January.

The IRS bases many resolution options, like installment agreements or Offers in Compromis, on your financial snapshot. The more accurate and up-to-date your information is, the stronger your position will be when you negotiate.

For Our Fellow Tax Pros

If you’re a professional supporting clients with tax debt, now is the perfect time to help them prepare before the new year rush.

Clients often underestimate how long financial documentation and compliance steps can take. Encouraging them to file, pay, or organize now helps prevent January chaos and creates smoother resolutions for everyone involved.

Proactive communication now builds trust, saves time, and protects both your clients’ peace of mind and your own sanity come Q1.

Resolution Is More Than Numbers

At Golden Lion Tax Solutions, we believe resolution is about more than forms, payments, and deadlines. It’s about restoring confidence. It’s about that moment when someone realizes their tax situation no longer controls their life, they do.

We’ve seen it over and over: the shift from fear to relief, from avoidance to empowerment. That’s what true resolution looks like.

So as the year comes to a close, give yourself (or your clients) the gift of progress. File what’s missing. Make one small payment. Organize your finances. These simple moves can completely change how the new year feels.

Finish this year strong and start the next one free from the weight of “what if.”

Take the first step toward relief. Let’s find your solution together.